The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, September 10, 2004, Image 10

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    CONSIDERING
COSMETIC SURGERY?
Michael J. Streitmann, MI), PA
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Member
American Society Of Plastic Surgeons
COMPLIMENTARY
CONSULTATIONS
713-667-4600
H AVE YOUR GROUP'S picture taken
for Texas A&M's 2005 Aggieland
yearbook. Contracts are due beginning
Friday. Follow these easy steps: (1)
Download a contract from http://
aggieland.tamu.edu or pick one up
in room 004 Reed McDonald. (2) Fill
out your contract and return it with
payment to room 015 Reed McDonald.
Space is limited. Questions? Call 845-
2682 for details.
Aqqieland2005
^ ^ Texas A&M University
SENIORS.
We need your graduation portrait
for the 2005 Aggieland yearbook.
Graduation portraits for Texas A&M University's 2005
Aggieland yearbook will be taken Monday through Friday,
Sept. 13-24, 2004, in MSC Room 027. Hours are 9 a.m.
to 7 p.m. each day. There is no sitting fee required to be
photographed for the yearbook.
To make your appointment, go to www.throntonstudio.
com. Go to Scheduling, then click New User, and complete
with Registration Password: tarn
Or schedule by calling Thornton Studio at 1-800-883-9449,
or see the photographer beginning Sept. 13.
10
NE\;
Friday, September 10, 2004
Blood Drive in Action
the BATTAllf
Texans rally for 1
tax deduction
BSD
By Suzanne Gamboa
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WHITNEY MARTIN • THE BATTALION
Carolyn Johnson of Dallas administrates the blood donating procedure at the Alpha Phi
Omega-Red Cross blood drive near Sbisa Dining Hall. Today is the last day of the blood drive.
WASHINGTON — The loom
ing end of the session and fights
over other tax cut proposals could
abruptly end what several members
of Congress said Thursday is the
best chance in decades for getting a
federal deduction for people whose
states only charge sales taxes.
About two dozen lawmakers
from both parties gathered in a
Senate conference room to rally
around the sales tax deduction
proposal, which affects a handful
of states, including Texas.
“We are not going home with
out sales tax deductibility,” said
Rep. Kevin Brady, a member of
the House Ways and Means Com
mittee, who has led the push for
the deduction.
In addition to Texas, the pro
posal would benefit Florida, Ten
nessee, South Dakota, Wyoming,
Nevada and Washington. ,
kans, who pay local taxes,
would benefit.
Brady acknowledged thepo
bility of ending the session emi
handed because Congress isscl
uled to adjourn in early Octofe
Also, the sales tax deduci
is part of similar, broaderf
passed by the House and Sei
that provide corporate tax i
and eliminate a tax cut fori
exporters. A conference ci
mittee has yet to meet to nea
ate the differences in the bi
because House Speaker Den
Hastcrt has not named comi
tee members.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutcln
said the hang-up is not thew
ly supported sales tax issue.S
said negotiations on the
rate tax bill have widened to
elude discussions on a sepan
sweeping energy bill that k
in
Jni
ides tax
elated pr<
incentivi
mrams.
Women
Continued from page 1
semester wearing regular clothes with
nametags, and commuting to the Quad ev
ery day for afternoon formation and din
ner at Duncan Hall. At the end of the fall
semester, the number of female cadets had
dropped to 25.
Pranglin said that although the first year
was difficult, 10 W-l male upperclassmen
helped the female cadets get through it, es
pecially W-l commanding officer S. Don
Roper, Class of 1975.
“Because this was the first year women
were allowed in the Corps, we had to have
some male upperclassmen to lead us and
instruct us,” Pranglin said. “They all volun
teered to help us and they were an extreme
ly important part of our success that year.
For all of those hardships and all of those
struggles, we always had ‘Don, Mr. Roper,
Sir.’ He was everything that was positive
about the Cadets.”
Roper said the Corps was unprepared
to accept women in Fall 1974 and that
he volunteered to be commanding officer
because he thought women should have
equal opportunities.
“I was very proud to be a part of company
W-l,” Roper said. “There was a quality of
women in W-l with the loyalty and desire to
be in the Corps, but it was a challenging year
for each of those who participated.”
Pranglin said one of the worst things
was when male cadets did not allow fe
male cadets to introduce themselves to
them, or “whip out.”
“At some point, we all wanted to quit,”
Pranglin said. “But each woman has her
reason why she wanted to stay in. For me,
as soon as I got into the spirit, I felt an ob
ligation to my fish buddies, my upperclass
men who volunteered, my parents and to
future women in the Corps.”
Roper said one of the main reasons wom
en survived in the Corps is because of the
unity in W-l.
“The good part was the very early co
hesiveness as a unit,” Roper said. “There
was a very strong relationship between
the women.”
Pranglin said she enjoyed forming bonds
with the other female Cadets and spending
time giggling about guys and talking about
who had a date on Friday. She added that her
favorite parts of the Corps experience were
Friday afternoons, after fonnation.
“We were so hot and tired, but we would
know the weekend was there, and we would
go in and clean up and then go out country-
and-westem dancing,” Pranglin said.
Pranglin said that during the four years
she was a cadet things progressed for wom
en. During Pranglin’s sophomore year, the
women were given dorms on the Quad, and
by her junior year, W-l was an all-female
unit and women were fully integrated in the
Corps. But Pranglin said by her senior year
she was a little disappointed that things still
weren’t perfect and some of the same dis
crimination was still happening.
“We did not get our boots,” Pranglin said.
“That torch was carried by another class.
Each group paved the way a little further
down the road.”
Maj. Kimberly Currens, Class of 1980
and a member of Squadron 14 and Parsons
Mounted Cavalry, joined the Corps because
she wanted a future job in the military. She
said harassment continued when she was
there, but that she and other cadets decided
to stay and make a point.
“Why did I join? Because I had to,”
Currens said. “Why did I stay after I found
out about (harassment)? Sheer stubborn
ness. I grew up a lot in my first couple
of years here at A&M, and it definitely
made me a strong person.”
Currens, who is now a member of the U.S.
Air Force and a military adviser for Squad
ron 12, was the first female cadet to return to
A&M as an ROTC instructor. She returned
to help mentor other female cadets.
“I have an open-door policy, and (female
cadets) can stop in any time they want and
discuss life,” Currens said.
Dawn Marie Baletka, Class of 1984 and
a member of Squadron 14, said that despite
the harassment in the Corps, she enjoyed
being a cadet tremendously. She said that
as a female cadet, she participated in the
building of Bonfire, something other female
A&M students were prohibited from doing.
Baletka said being an ‘oddity’ on campus
was a good challenge.
“We (Squadron 14) had a motto that trans
lated to, ‘I will either find a way or make
w
one,’” Baletka sai
women in the Cot
Baletka said th
)man she is tod;
“The women \
>od with m
, made me
businesswom
activist that I
what we i
In a state
ire Marsha
aused the
ie Univers
in July 3E
The stater
rior servict
“We cam
f the fire a
etermined
ature,” sai
he Texas D
The gas I
|ie buildin]
irto the pip 1
-1 J, accoi
Hagins de
[plosion xx
ide h
a ho
d th<
u
before me.
xvho stood i
1 am tc
n today, the
Baletka said.
men
that
n that
m todi
Baletka said she is proud to be
two female cadets who are the first toi
daughters in the Corps. Baletk
Brynn Hayes, is a freshman in A-Batt.
“She has wanted to be in the \ggiel
since she was out of the cradle.” Baletka a
“I told her that no amount of money it
uld buy her something to rq
priceless.”
/es. a special education major, said
beinn in the Corps so far and that!
% \
wc
thi
It’
lovi
though she has experienced some c&aiiq
of try ing to keep up with the male cadi
things are a lot better now than they
when her mother was a cadet.
“If it ever gets hard. I think. ‘Um
times harder when my mom was|
Hayes said. “Anytime I’m down, I
‘My mom did it.’ Knowing that they;
the way and seeing my upperclassmens
in their boots makes it all worth it."
Pranglin. Roper, Currens, Baletka;
Hayes will be at the 30th anniversary!
ebration this weekend. The anniversary,
years in the making, includes social
erings and speeches from Col. Pauletta|
Blueitt, Class of 1981 of the U.S. AirFc
and Lt. Gen. John Van Alstyne, commaa|
of the Corps of Cadets. This xveekend*
also include the opening of the official \
en’s exhibit in the Sanderson Corps Cei
which w'ill include memorabilia from fen
cadets and a brick dedication on Sunday!
Currens, who is on the anniversary plan
committee, is excited about the interaction!
will be available for old and new female!
at the anniversary, especially between thei]
women who have become colonels.
“This is something female cadets!
look (at) and be like, ‘This is doafl
Currens said.
Baletka is just excited to see her daud
march on Kyle Field for the first time.
“She’s making her own stories and!
own memories now,” Baletka said.
I
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Fifth Avenue i
The tribute mi
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12,973 people.
to
t&M
By Matt
THE B
SWEAT
SHIRTS £
POLOS
V ■
September 9th -
Corner of Southwest Pkwy. an
Thursday, September 9th - Saturday
Sunday,
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tember ttt
am - bpm
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or a third s
lereases in
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Indent Healt
■“The Uni
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Whether tl
Bributed to
Rins uncleai
Sor the wholi^r si
Wvare of the
family! Mephone nui
J|ealth Servii
dons this yeai
He a&m gists
On the Lack's, 4.0 & GO and Bourbon Street
parking lot} For mat
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Hpdergraduat'
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this month tht
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